With an aim to counter widespread deficiencies, The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), in association with the Philippines Rice Research Institute and the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, has successfully grown Golden Rice under controlled conditions at the IRRI campus. Golden Rice, bred to be rich in beta-carotene content, offers nutritional benefits similar to conventional rice. However, its unique selling point remains that it can address widespread deficiencies in rice-consuming populations around the globe.
About Golden Rice
Golden Rice is an innovative breed of rice fortified with beta-carotene (provitamin A), which lends the grain its distinct golden hue. As the body requires, beta-carotene is transformed into vitamin A. Based on genetic engineering, Golden Rice produces two different enzymes that facilitate beta-carotene expression in the grain. Preliminary research suggests that a single cup of Golden Rice can meet up to 50% of an adult’s daily vitamin A requirement. Despite its limited shelf life (not more than 3 months), Golden Rice can be grown conventionally, and variations containing the GR2E Golden Rice trait demonstrate similar yield and agricultural performance to their standard counterparts.
The Vitamin A Deficiency (VAD) Problem
Vitamin A, a fat-soluble vitamin essential for healthy vision, skin, bones and other tissues in the body, can be divided into two types. Preformed vitamin A or retinol is obtained from animal-derived products such as fortified milk, meat, eggs, cheese, kidneys and halibut fish oil. On the other hand, pro-vitamin A is found in plant-based foods like fruits and vegetables, with the most common type being beta-carotene, a pigment producer. A deficiency in vitamin A can result in various health issues including night blindness, increased risk of infections, follicular hyperkeratosis causing dry, bumpy skin, fertility issues, and delayed growth in children.
Impact of Vitamin A Deficiency (VAD)
Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) currently plagues approximately 250 million people globally, with women and children being particularly susceptible. As the primary cause of childhood blindness and an inhibitor to the immune system’s disease-fighting capability, VAD is a significant global health issue. Adequate availability of vitamin A could prevent between 1.3 and 2.5 million of the nearly 8 million infant and preschool-age children who die annually in high-risk developing nations.
Methods to Combat VAD
Mitigation of VAD requires a multi-pronged approach including nutrition education, promotion of a diverse and nutrient-rich diet, encouraging breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices, vitamin A capsule supplementation, food fortification, along with other public health measures targeted at controlling infectious diseases.
| Approach | Description |
|---|---|
| Nutrition Education | Promote understanding about the importance of a balanced diet rich in Vitamin A. |
| Food Fortification | Add Vitamin A to staple foods like rice and flour. |
| Supplemental Capsules | Provide Vitamin A capsules to those at risk of deficiency. |
| Breastfeeding and Complementary Feeding Practices | Promote breastfeeding and introduce Vitamin A-rich foods at an early age. |
International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)
The IRRI is an independent, non-profit educational and research institute that was established by the Ford and Rockefeller Foundations in 1960 with support from the Philippine government. The Los Baños-based institute, which has offices across 17 rice-growing countries in Asia and Africa, is renowned as the foremost research organization dedicated to alleviating poverty and hunger through rice science. IRRI is committed to improving the health and welfare of rice farmers and consumers while also focusing on protecting the rice-growing environment for future generations.